Marana to make traffic improvements on Cortaro Road west of I-10

In order to accommodate increased traffic, the Town of Marana will be restriping sections of Cortaro Road west of I-10 on March 14. The Town anticipates that these adjustments will greatly improve the flow of traffic in this area. This work will increase both turn-lane and through-lane capacity on Cortaro.

During the roadwork on March 14, there will be intermittent lane restrictions outside the hours of heaviest traffic.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs.

If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice.

For more information, please contact the Town of Marana Communications Office at (520) 382-2602.

Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Marana Ranked as one of the Safest Cities in Arizona

Every year, the National Council for Home Safety and Security evaluates cities and towns across the country to determine which communities are safest for residents and visitors. This year, Marana was ranked as one of the safest communities in Arizona. 

In order to create these rankings, the Council examined the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting statistics, population estimates, and their own internal research.

Click here to read the full report.

Float Through Time at Marana’s Founders’ Day

Marana’s Founders’ Day, on March 25 at Ora Mae Harn Park, is just a few weeks away, and there’s a lot to look forward to at this year’s event. The Town’s partnership with the Marana Heritage Conservancy is sure to make this day a fun celebration for all attendees.

All day long, from the pancake breakfast in the morning to the beer garden in the evening, we’ll be celebrating the community spirit that inspired Marana’s founders to establish this Town forty years ago. Don’t miss this opportunity to watch Marana’s past come alive.

The Marana Community Food Bank, a venerable institution working to eliminate hunger in our region, will start the event with a pancake breakfast. Chow down on a syrupy, flaky stack of goodness, and wash it all down with a glass of orange juice or cup of coffee.

Once you’re fueled up for the day of festivities, claim your spot to watch the Founders’ Day parade. With floats representing Marana’s heritage, as well as the thriving community surrounding us today, this stream of creatively decorated exhibitions is sure to entertain one and all. The theme of this year’s parade is celebrating Marana’s 40th birthday, and each float will represent that heritage in its own unique way.

After the parade, you’ve got a whole afternoon to experience a range of fun activities. There will be live performances from our stage, a beer garden serving up all your favorite brews, and even a car show displaying a wide variety of vehicles, from classic hot rods to powerful hogs.

Throughout the day, you won’t have to worry about going hungry, either. We’ll have 16 food trucks serving up tasty treats, including ice cream, burgers, and even authentic German currywurst.

Founders’ Day is one of Marana’s most popular events every spring. To get in all the action, be sure to mark your calendar for March 25! We can’t wait to see you out there.

Overnight striping work on I-10 frontage roads begins March 12

The Interstate 10 east- and westbound I-10 frontage roads from Orange Grove Road to 29th Street (mileposts 250-260) and the westbound I-10 ramps at Tangerine Road will have nightly rolling lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Sunday night, March 12, and ending Friday morning, March 17.

With Arizona Department of Transportation crews restriping the frontage roads, rolling lane closures are scheduled as follows:

Sunday, March 12

• Eastbound I-10 frontage road from Orange Grove Road to Grant Road.

Monday, March 13

• Eastbound I-10 frontage road from Speedway Boulevard to Cushing Street.

Tuesday, March 14

• Eastbound I-10 frontage road from Cushing Street to 29th Street.
• Westbound I-10 frontage road from Orange Grove Road to Ruthrauff Road.

Wednesday, March 15 

• Westbound I-10 frontage road from Miracle Mile to Congress Street.

Thursday, March 16

• Westbound I-10 frontage road from Congress Street to 29th Street.
• Westbound I-10 on- and off-ramps at Tangerine Road. (Ramps will remain open.)

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

For more information, please call Paki Rico, ADOT senior community relations officer, at 520.388.4233 or email prico@azdot.gov.

Maintenance work will restrict lane on I-10 at Orange Grove Road Mar. 8

The right lane on westbound Interstate 10 at Orange Grove Road (milepost 250) will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Mar. 8, for maintenance work. The westbound I-10 off-ramp at Orange Grove Road has been shifted to Sunset Road. All remaining ramps and Orange Grove Road underneath I-10 will be open.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

For more information, please call Paki Rico, ADOT senior community relations officer, at 520.388.4233 or email prico@azdot.gov.

Marana Receives Government Financial Officers Award for 2017 Budget

For the 10th consecutive year, Marana has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Award. This honor recognizes the Town’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and operational transparency.  

This award represents a significant achievement for the Town of Marana. It reflects the commitment of the Town to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, Marana had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well the Town’s budget serves as:

• A policy document
• A financial plan
• An operations guide
• A communications device

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

For budgets beginning in 2015, 1565 participants received the award. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

The GFOA is a major professional association servicing the needs of nearly 19,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners. It provides top quality publications, training programs, services, and products designed to enhance the skills and performance of those responsible for government finance policy and management. The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.

Surface treatment on Silverbell Road, March 8-13

The Town of Marana has contracted Sunland Asphalt to apply a surface sealant on Silverbell Road between Twin Peaks Road and Sunset Road starting March 8 – 13. Expect daytime lane restrictions.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs.

Travel time through the project area may increase during construction so please adjust your schedule accordingly. Construction may restrict traffic lanes and create congestion. Taking alternate routes is suggested.

If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice.

For more information, please contact Town of Marana Public Works Office (520) 382-2505.

Marana Water News: What's the 811?

With the construction projects around town, have you ever wondered what those multiple colors on the pavement and sidewalks might be? The Arizona 811 program helps to decorate our streets and sidewalks with colored paint to help avoid any damage to underground utilities. Established in 1974 as a non-profit organization, Arizona 811 helps contractors and homeowners identify what might be lying below the surface.

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The 1973 law states that Arizona 811 must be contacted before “…any operation in which earth, rock or other material in the ground is moved, removed or otherwise displaced by means or use of any tools, equipment or explosives, and includes without limitation, grading, trenching, digging, ditching, drilling, auguring, boring, tunneling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing, and driving.” So, what does this mean for Marana Water and our customers? Well, when anyone, including homeowners, is going to do some work requiring digging, a call to Arizona 811 should be made. The professionals there will help identify what utility company or companies should be called depending on the area of the project. They will help to locate pipes, cables, underground lines to help dig safely.

According to their website, Arizona 811 processes 522,000 tickets for location each year throughout the state, all free of charge. These tickets are divided into the various utilities, which each have their own color identifying what is below the ground. These colors are uniform across the country. The image above shows the specific colors associated with Arizona 811. Here at Marana Water we mark water (blue) and sanitary sewer (green) systems. In January, Marana Water marked 284 water lines and eight sewer lines that were received from the Arizona 811 system.

By reaching out to Arizona 811 the integrity of water, telephone, electric, gas, and other utility lines remains intact and injury to anyone onsite can be avoided. Marana Water both provides marking for our water and sewer lines, but also will contact them when we are working on our own construction projects.

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Tangerine Road Update, March 2, 2017

Beginning Monday, March 6, through Wednesday, March 8, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, the contractor will be installing sewer infrastructure across Tangerine Road at Sage Brook Road. Residents and the traveling public can expect the following:

• Sage Brook Road will be temporarily closed each day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• On Monday, March 6, eastbound Tangerine Road will be shifted to the north at Sage Brook Road to accommodate work activities
• On Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday, March 8, flaggers will be onsite to direct alternating, one-way traffic on Tangerine Road at Sage Brook Road
• Traffic control will be removed at the end of each work day
• Expect delays
• Speed limits will be reduced to 25 mph in the work zone

For your safety, please be aware that the contractor has placed barrier walls at all drainage locations along Tangerine Road between Thornydale Road and La Cholla Boulevard. 

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Kristi or Nanette at (520) 623-3073 or by email at info@tangerineroad.info. We look forward to working with you throughout the project, and encourage any feedback to ensure the Project Team can deliver a beneficial project for the whole community. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.tangerineroad.info. For more detailed schedule information please click here.

Please be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians in the area and ensure that dogs, horses and other animals are not in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all.

Manager Message: Marana Prepares for Growth with Major Infrastructure Projects

Message from Town Manager Gilbert Davidson

The Town of Marana has enjoyed considerable growth in recent years. In order to manage that growth effectively, we are currently committed to a number of key projects that improve our infrastructure and aim to ensure a high quality of life for all Marana residents, including those who don’t even live here yet!

One project which has generated quite of a bit of excitement is the Tangerine Sky Community Park, located along the Tangerine Corridor. This will be the first Town-managed park east of I-10, and as a result is filling a major need in our community. This 10-acre facility will include a dog park, basketball court, playground equipment, and walking paths that showcase the park’s beautiful Sonoran Desert setting. Nearby, the Town is also installing a new art installation that will add a creative element to Tangerine Road. As soon as this project is complete, we hope to see you out there enjoying a day in the park with your family.

Along one side of this new park, Tangerine Road currently connects both Marana and Oro Valley to Interstate 10. As the population of this region has increased, the demands on this road have grown commensurately, and so Marana is currently collaborating with the Regional Transportation Authority, Oro Valley, and Pima County to widen Tangerine Road and to eliminate the dips that are vulnerable to flooding. Phase 1-A of this project, stretching from Dove Mountain to Thornydale, will finish this summer, and will include two lanes in each direction and a landscaped center median. There will also be widened shoulders on both sides of the road, as well as a car-free shared-use path on the north side of Tangerine.

While Tangerine Sky Park becomes a reality in northeast Marana, we are also working on a major improvement in northwest Marana. The Town is working to realign the Marana Road intersection west of I-10. This new alignment will greatly improve the safety of this intersection and allow for improved access to the Downtown Marana district. The Town will add a new roadway that pushes eastbound traffic on Marana road to a roundabout south of the current intersection with Sandario. Eventually, this roadway will continue on the east side of Sandario and curve south to connect with Marana Main Street. The vision for this area is all part of the Downtown Marana plan, and this new roadway is a preliminary step toward achieving that vision.

One consequence of Marana’s growth is the heightened demand that is placed on the Marana Police Department. Marana’s officers do a tremendous job of policing our community and developing strong relationships with residents. However, their current facilities simply do not provide adequate capacity if they are going to keep providing the same level of service. That’s why the Marana is building a new police headquarters. This summer, we are excited to break ground on this facility, and we expect to complete it by summer 2018. It will include a public community room, holding cells, shooting range, booking areas, and much more. During the design of the facility, Marana’s engineering team interviewed every police employee, including uniformed officers and support staff, to determine how they complete their jobs. This new facility will perfectly complement those processes. When it’s finished, the new Marana PD Headquarters will offer a beautiful and efficient space that will benefit the entire Town.

One final project that we are particularly excited about is the extension of the shared-use path from El Rio Community Park to Avra Valley Road. This project coincides nicely with the closure of the path at Ina, as it provides 1.5 more miles of path to cyclists starting at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. When the Ina section of the path reopens, the new segment will connect with the rest of the Loop system, offering cyclists well over 100 miles of car-free cycling throughout this region.

Infrastructure improvements are critical to Marana’s growth strategy. Our goal is to build Marana’s reputation on the outstanding public service we provide to our residents, and our infrastructure—our streets, parks, and facilities—will help us to cement that status. To learn more about major projects in the Town, visit www.maranaaz.gov/cip, and be sure to keep up with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to receive real-time updates on all our hard work. 

This Manager Message was originally published in the the February 22 edition of the Marana News.

Family to Occupy Permanent Home In Clearing South of Tangerine Road

When urban planners in Marana’s Development Services department consider new housing permits, they take a variety of considerations into account. How close is the nearest school? How can we ensure that homes are near major thoroughfares without sitting directly on a busy road? What infrastructure needs will the homes require? For a new family about to take up residence in Marana, though, the Town has chosen to ignore all these considerations.

Soon, a father, mother, and their three offspring will settle into an open clearing just south of Tangerine Road, east of Twin Peaks, and north of the soon-to-open Tangerine Sky Community Park. The family have received special permission to occupy so unorthodox a location as an open clearing. Their home will have no utilities. The structure will not be reviewed by a building inspector. In fact, there won’t even be a structure. But for this family of steel deer, Marana’s newest art installation, a patch of dirt under the open sky is all they need.

The idea for these newcomers to Marana started with Trevor O’Tool. Trevor holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts in 3-D and Expanded Media from the University of Arizona. As a welder, chaser, and metal processer, he has constructed bronze sculptures to be incorporated into the work of other artists. He founded a clothing company in Lake Havasu City and exhibited sculptures throughout Tucson. And a few evenings each week, he’s a hooker.

“Basically, my job is to hook the ball back during scrums,” explains Trevor, with a bashful grin. “And whenever the ball goes out of bounds, I throw it back in during line outs.” Trevor has been the hooker for the Tucson Magpies, a recreational rugby club, since he graduated from the UA four years ago.

In fact, it was through rugby that Trevor met Angela Wagner-Gabbard, a resident of Marana and a member of the Marana Citizens’ Forum subcommittee on public art. In 2014, the five-member subcommittee provided guidance to the Town Council on how best to execute the Transportation Art by Youth Grant, a program sponsored by the Pima Association of Governments, which provides resources to incorporate art into transportation projects. The grant enables art-oriented youth organizations to collaborate with professional artists to design projects that help beautify a variety of infrastructure improvements. Angela encouraged Trevor to submit a proposal, and after a lengthy review process, Marana, for the first time ever, hired a hooker.

Marana’s new art installation will be part of the improvements along Tangerine Road between Dove Mountain and Thornydale Roads. In reviewing a variety of proposals, Marana’s grant reviewers, including the subcommittee of the Citizens’ Forum, wanted to see a design that reflected the natural environment of this setting. This arterial road connects northern Marana and Oro Valley with Interstate 10, crossing just south of the Tortolita Mountains. The wildlife that inhabits these mountains includes several species of megafauna which enjoy an elevated status in the popular imagination. Mountain lions prowl these canyons, wild horses lope through the saguaro forest, and mule deer bound up the steep slopes. Lots and lots of mule deer.

Those deer are what Trevor had in mind when he proposed his sculpture. “The solicitation for this project indicated that Marana wanted a design that referenced the Native American history of this site. The Hohokam used to live in the Tortolitas, and when I learned that they associated the deer with ideas like gentleness and innocence, I decided to go in that direction. Right now, Marana is building Tangerine Sky Park nearby, and eventually, there will also be a school in this area. I think the Hohokam symbolism of deer will really fit nicely in this setting.”

When Marana staff and members of the Forum subcommittee saw his design, they couldn’t help but agree. The image of a massive doe and buck, leading a family of three fawns, captured the imagery they had hoped for.  Trevor received overwhelming approval to move forward with his design.

Trevor O'Tool's proposed sketch of deer.

Constructing five oversized deer that can withstand temperature extremes, powerful monsoon rains, and driving winds presented Trevor with a daunting challenge. Fortunately, the very premise of the grant funding his work meant that he did not have to meet that challenge alone. The language of the grant requires that at least 20% of the funding support youth stipends, and the Career and Technical Education program of Marana Unified School District offered the perfect talent pool for completing the project. Marana High School’s welding program prepares students to pursue careers in metal fabrication, and its graduates have gone on to work with companies like Sierra Mining and Crushing, JB Steel, and CAID Industries. Trevor’s design proposed constructing the deer from flat sheets of steel cut into triangles, and so a collaboration with MHS’s welding program was a natural fit. Ken Webb, who runs the welding program, was eager to facilitate this opportunity for his students.

“It’s a cool project to be a part of,” Ken shouted recently over the din of grinders and welders loudly crafting a metallic fawn. “This sculpture is going to be around for years to come, and these kids may eventually take their kids to see this sculpture. It’s really gratifying for all of us to have that experience.”

Randy Chambliss, a recent graduate of Marana High, smooths out a section of the fawn's head.

Since the students first began this project in the summer of 2016, they’ve had to strategize with Ken and Trevor to figure out how exactly to translate an artist’s sketch into a set of towering steel sculptures.

“It’s kind of like building a Lego set, except a grown-up version,” says John Campbell, who started working on this project as a senior and has stayed with the team since he graduated last year. And although welding is most often associated with flying sparks and molten metals, as John and his classmates have learned in the welding program, the first step requires long hours in front of a computer screen. That’s because projects like this one are first designed in SolidWorks, a 3D design software program that creates a digital model of the final design. The students then used the school’s 3D printer to create a physical miniature of the final sculpture.

The deer model (with broken ear) stands in the shadow of its substantially larger facsimile.

Finally, once that model matches the intended specifications, the students must translate those dimensions into their Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Plasma Cam. The CNC Plasma Cam is the industry standard for cutting sheet metal with absolute precision, slicing through the metal with far greater accuracy than is possible with a handheld cutter.

John Campbell checks measurements in the software program that operates the CNC Plasma Cam.

Once the Marana High team had cut out all 295 plates for the first deer, they began the arduous process of assembling them into a sculpture. The first step of that process required tack welding the plates together, a technique that holds the pieces together temporarily.

This stage, John admitted, was more challenging than expected. “Anytime you go from a digital design to a physical design, you’re going to find differences between theory and reality.” In this case, one issue they encountered arose from as small a difference as 1/8 inch.

In SolidWorks, Ken explained, they didn’t account for the width of each plate. That minor discrepancy turned out to create a compounding problem as the plates did not fit as neatly together in the welding shop as they did on the computer screen. Through careful troubleshooting and teamwork between the MHS team and Trevor, the team was able to make the necessary adjustments to fit all the pieces together without having to start over from scratch.

“That’s a really valuable lesson for these kids to learn,” recalled Ken. “This project requires a lot of critical thinking and problem-solving. They’re learning the computer side of programming to make and cut the parts. They’re learning to apply the skills they learned in my classes, and they’re taking them to the next level. They’re not being treated as students anymore, but rather like this is a job and this is their workplace.”

While the students at Marana High School are building the three fawns, Trevor is taking on the buck, the largest member of the family. With shoulders measuring six feet tall and antlers rising to well over twelve feet, this enormous sculpture dwarfs the array of heavy machinery scattered across the University of Arizona studio where he works. Occasionally, Trevor will have to climb onto its back just to do a quick spot weld on its head.

Trevor O'Tool astride the deer and Eric Norman at its feet.

Fortunately, Trevor has help in the workshop. Shop Tech Eric Norman has been heavily involved throughout the project’s construction, and is bringing his own expertise to help ensure a well-crafted final product. With a masters in fine arts from Washington State University and a degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Eric is well acquainted with the challenges and constraints, as well as the benefits, of executing projects like this one.

“I think it’s hugely important for public institutions to prioritize art in the community,” says Eric, sitting in the shadow of the immense buck. “Art is a community need. In the same way that people need smooth roads, they need public art around them.” For Eric, then, it makes sense that the Tangerine Road improvement project is incorporating both of these priorities.

Trevor smooths out one section of the deer with a grinder.

When the family of deer is complete, it will occupy a strip near the southeast corner of Tangerine Road and Camino de Oeste. Nearby, Marana is currently constructing Tangerine Sky Park. While there will be no direct connection between the sculptures and the park, Trevor and the members of the MHS team all look forward to seeing the public physically interact with the deer.

“Kids are going to want to climb all over these, and honestly, I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t,” laughs Trevor. “Of course, parents should be there to make sure they don’t fall, but I believe that art like this is best experienced not just by looking at it, but by touching it, and yes, even playing on it.”

Trevor’s playful demeanor shines through in other projects of his, including a manikin laden head to foot with life jackets cautiously approaching a kiddy pool.

Err on the Side of Caution. 2014. Source: trevorotool.com/works

Trevor has subtly put his sense of humor to work on these deer sculptures, as well. While he isn’t committing to a final name for the piece quite yet, he’s considering the title “Deer in Headlights.” That is, after all, what the deer will be every night, standing beside Tangerine Road.

The final sculpture is anticipated to be completed and installed this summer. Tom Houle, a construction manager for the Town of Marana, is overseeing the Tangerine roadwork and working with the sculpture team to figure out exactly how and where to place the deer.

The location of the sculpture, he explains, is perfect for a number of reasons. “This is an elevated site, so the deer will really stand out, even from a distance. Of course, this is also deer country. We incorporated deer crossings into the Twin Peaks project a few years ago, and Phase 2 of the Tangerine project will also have a deer crossing west of Dove Mountain.” It’s factors like these that get Tom excited to see the final installation in situ.

When Marana hired part-time hooker, full-time artist Trevor O’Tool, the Town made a crucial investment in the community’s infrastructure, albeit in a non-traditional sense. Roads help get families to school, water systems deliver safe drinking water, and roadside art integrates a sense of creativity and fun into the fabric of the community. It’s what inspires us to expect our public spaces to be not just functional, but joyful. And it turns out, it isn’t always hard to conjure up that joy. Sometimes, all it takes is a family of five deer by the side of the road.

Marana Water News: Water Giving Back

The tie between healthy communities and clean water is undeniable. Having access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation services will reduce illness and death due to waterborne pathogens. Diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis are all found in contaminated drinking water. In addition to the health aspects there is also a social concern regarding access to water. In some places, people can spend up to four hours a day collecting water, and it is traditionally done by women and girls. This time consuming task can prevent getting to school, taking care of a family, or working another job. There are many organizations working to provide clean water nearby for many communities. Today we highlight just a few.

Water for People – stemming from the American Water Works Association, Water for People’s mission is to “promote the high-quality drinking water and sanitation services, accessible to all, and sustained by strong communities, businesses, and governments.” They put together teams and projects in Central and South America, India, and Central Africa. They build water and sanitation projects in cooperation with the communities to help promote the investment for the long term. Generating buy-in from the local communities helps to keep the project running after the initial investment period has passed. For more information about Water for People click here.

Water Step – Water Step highlights the connection between health, education, and work. It shows how clean water will provide the opportunities for children to be well enough to attend school and that women do not have to carry water long distances so they can focus on other work and caring for their families. They are currently working on projects in Ecuador, Uganda, Nigeria, and Brazil. Their projects range from providing treatment equipment and tools to building latrines at a school. One of the unique aspects of this organization is the training component. They focus on providing proper training for those in the local community to spread the clean water message, but also to be able to repair or address an issue once they are maintaining their water system. For more information, click here.

Water.org – One of the largest water non-profit organizations, Water.org has many aspects and programs dedicated to creating access to clean water and proper sanitation services. Their WaterCredit program uses small loans to help those in need invest in household resources like plumbing and toilets. They have a strong Global Advocacy program where they work to bring leaders from around the world together with water experts to work together to bring transformation to communities. New Ventures Fund is their research and development program to find new ways to bring in necessary water and sanitation projects to communities in need. Currently, there are Water.org projects in Central Africa, Asia, and Latin America. For more information, click here.

Charity: Water – By working with local communities, Charity Water identifies the best sustainable solution to provide water locally. Their projects have included a well-piped system, sand filters, and rainwater harvesting. In addition to the infrastructure investment, they also provide sanitation and health training. They are currently working in 24 countries in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America typically focusing on providing rural communities with access to clean water for the first time. They have an extensive blog showing all the projects and work they are doing around the world. For more information, click here.

Safe drinking water and proper sanitation services are the bedrock of Marana Water. We work hard each day to ensure that our water and sewer systems are functioning properly and safely. These charities are just a few that are working around the world to establish those same foundations for everyone.

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Marana Water News: "Flushable" Wipes?

In previous posts we have discussed our Grecycle program, the goal of which is to help eliminate fats, oils, and grease from getting into the sewer system and potentially causing damage or sewer overflows. This week we highlight another culprit that has been returning in the news, disposable or flushable wipes.

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission facility technician Steve Thomas uses a modified shopping cart to catch ’flushable’ wipes Wednesday before they get to pumps and clog sewer equipment in Greenbelt. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

These types of personal wipes are flushed at an ever increasing frequency and can clog up sewer lines and wastewater processing equipment. The nonwoven fabrics have a harder time breaking down than regular toilet paper, and can catch other fats, oils and grease pockets in the sewer system. Large cities like New York and Washington D.C. spend millions a year to process these types of cloths out of their systems. New York City alone spends close to $10 million a year managing machinery and repairing expensive clogs, according to a 2015 article by The Guardian. Flushing more durable items like these wipes and paper towels increases the chance that the sewer line can clog.

Clog pulled from a wastewater treatment facility in Washington D.C. These are the types of clogs that can be caused from "flushable" wipes. 

Part of the problem comes from the packaging in which these wipes are sold. They clearly say "flushable" on the packaging. To help combat some of this confusion, the International Nonwovens and Disposables Association and the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association have developed a voluntary code of practice to prevent these types of products from entering the sewer system. In November 2016, DC Water presented to the DC Council to prevent this label from being applied to wipes that are truly not flushable. These types of discussions are happening across the country, and there is some interest from the Federal Trade Commission.

Marana Water operates a water reclamation facility for the sewer customers in north Marana. Getting a clog in any part of the system can damage infrastructure and can cause backups in the lines and at the treatment facility. While it may not seem like the biggest issue facing our utilities, the expenses from these types of clogs can be extremely high. Overflows and system failures prevent our customers from seeing continuity of service, but also prevent our staff from working on normal maintenance to keep the system running. Think twice before flushing those wipes.

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Marana Water News: Managing Water Reclamation

Since 2012, the Town has been in the water reclamation business. Operating two facilities, one in north Marana and one in the Rillito neighborhood, is the work of our Water Reclamation division. This staff of five work around the clock to ensure everything is functioning properly at these reclamation facilities. This work includes some extensive testing, monitoring, and reporting requirements. This week we highlight how much goes into keeping track of how well our water is being treated before it hits the aquifer.

Background

The Clean Water Act established in 1972, and substantially amended in 1987, regulates the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the nation’s water. These regulations and protections of surface water are one of the primary regulatory drivers dictating treatment requirements at the Town of Marana’s Water Reclamation Facility. Additionally, the Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 provides the current framework for surface water quality regulation in the United States. When initially enacted, Clean Water Act worked to establish universal treatment nationwide using certain technology requirements. The 1987 amendments established water quality-based standards. To meet these new standards, advance treatment methods needed to be in place including, in many instances, nitrification/denitrification and enhanced disinfection, which further clean the water.

Marana Water Department’s Water Reclamation Division oversees the water quality and regulatory issues associated with its operations in efforts to meet the primary mission to protect public health and the environment.  An extensive water quality program is administered through this division to perform surveillance sampling of its treatment facilities, analytical testing and documentation, and reporting of water quality.

The Town of Marana’s Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) operates under a variety of water quality permits including AZPDES, APP, and reuse permits.  Each of these permits contains specific lists of contaminants that must be monitored and their prescribed monitoring frequencies.  As a result, it is common for this facility to be subject to over 1,300 individual analyses per year to document and ensure water quality objectives are met.

These permits require the Water Reclamation staff to collect samples for the following things:

• Microbiology - E. Coli and total coliform (human and animal waste)
• General Chemistry – Ammonia, biochemical Oxygen Demand, Nitrate/Nitrite, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Oil and Grease, Phosphorus
• Metals – approximately 17 metals including antimony, arsenic, and mercury
• Volatile Organic Compounds – approximately 28 types. These are chemicals that contain carbon and evaporate easily like solvents, cleaners, and pesticides.
• Semi-volatile compounds – approximately 11 types. These can be things like flame retardants and some pesticides.
• Toxicity – evaluates the potential harmful effects to the water system. Things like algae, flathead minnows and water fleas are used to track toxicity of the effluent.

 Reporting Requirements

In 2016, the Water Reclamation division collected almost 1,300 samples. From these 1,300 samples, 85% were required for regulatory compliance. These 1,100 samples were individually analyzed and reported to the proper agency. The remaining 15% were collected for quality assurance and to monitor treatment processes and performance at the plant. The chart to the right shows how the regulatory structure works. Starting with the federal government and funneling down to the state Department of Environmental Quality, there are many entities ensuring we meet all the Clean Water Act standards.

There are schedules for sampling for compliance to ADEQ. These can be done quarterly or monthly depending on the test type. Each permit issued to our plant outlines these testing frequencies and our staff work hard each day to meet them. Those 1,300 samples are all done by hand by those operators. Most of the samples then head off to a lab where they will complete the sampling procedures. There are some tests that are time- and temperature-sensitive, so these tests are done by our staff in a small on-site lab. Additionally, the water discharged at the end of the treatment process needs to be tested. The discharge water is held to high standards as well, and even requires an authorized representative to sign each report. There is language in the law that says they agree that the information is “true, accurate, and complete” and that there are fines up to $27,500 or 5 years in prison for knowingly submitting false information.

What happens if there is a failure? Our staff have to notify the state by 9:00am the following day after a failure has happened. A failure can be missing a required sample, monitoring at the wrong frequency, not submitting results in the required time frame, or exceeding the maximum level for a contaminant. Our team has an extremely low failure rate, even having to collect so many samples. Should one of these events occur, there are established Regulatory Compliance Response steps in place that we would have to follow. This can include notifying the permitting authority and treatment personnel, and increased sampling frequency after a comprehensive investigation and audit. Once the failure has been corrected the facility is back in compliance and after-action reports and training are conducted.

As you can imagine, there is specialized training to work in the water reclamation world. Our staff have Wastewater operator certifications as well as additional training in proper sample collection procedures, chemistry, reporting structures, and much more. Their attention to detail is second to none.

These testing requirements are a necessity in the water reclamation world to ensure water quality and protect public health. This is one of the largest portions of the water reclamation budget. For the 2016 fiscal year the total budget for sampling and testing requirements was almost $140,000. Having the proper permits issued is 11%, laboratory analysis is 40%, and the remaining 49% covers all the materials and administration of the program.

Our water reclamation staff are a small and strong group. Maintaining the wastewater treatment facility, ensuring all permits and testing schedules are up to date, and additional general day-to-day operations are all vital to the success of our treatment facility. The effluent water that they produce, at a high quality, goes back into our aquifer to be recharged for future water use. The quality of this water is important to ensuring we have a safe future water supply. They are an integral part of our mission to provide safe and reliable water. 

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Orange Grove off-ramp from I-10 West shifted to Sunset Road

Frontage road to remain open to Orange Grove on-ramp

MARANA – As part of the project to improve the Ina Road interchange at Interstate 10, the Orange Grove Road off-ramp from westbound I-10 will be closed and traffic shifted to the Sunset Road off-ramp.

The westbound frontage road will remain open to Orange Grove and north to the Orange Grove on-ramp. The frontage road north of the Orange Grove on-ramp will remain closed for the duration of the 25-month Ina Road project.

The Arizona Department of Transportation will close the Ina Interchange at I-10 about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, as part of a project to improve the interchange by building a bridge to carry Ina over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The $120 million project also includes widening both Ina and I-10 and other improvements in the area. Ina Rd businesses will remain open, and access to area businesses on both sides of I-10 will be maintained throughout the project, which is scheduled for completion in early 2019.

On Tuesday, the right lane of westbound I-10 will be closed at Orange Grove from 9 a.m. to noon for signal maintenance work. The right lanes of I-10 will be closed intermittently between Avra Valley and Sunset roads beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday for overhead sign work.

To see more on this project, visit azdot.gov/InaTI.

UPDATE: Ina Road Traffic Interchange reconstruction begins Feb. 15; Orange Grove Road exit shifted to Sunset Road

Ina Road remains open east and west of I-10

The Interstate 10/Ina Road traffic interchange in Marana is scheduled to enter Phase 2 on Wednesday, Feb. 15. During this phase, the westbound I-10 off-ramp at Orange Grove Road will close so that traffic can exit at Sunset Road. Westbound I-10 drivers wishing to exit at Orange Grove Road will use the westbound I-10 Sunset Road exit to the westbound I-10 frontage road to Orange Grove Road.

Ina Road, east and west of I-10, will remain open and ADOT will maintain access to all businesses in the work zone for the duration of the project. The work will occur as follows:

Tuesday, Feb. 14

• The right lane on westbound I-10 at Orange Grove Road will be closed from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Feb. 14, for signal maintenance work.
• The right lane of east- and westbound I-10 between Avra Valley and Sunset roads will be intermittently closed from 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, for overhead sign work.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

• Ina Road at I-10, including the east- and westbound I-10 on- and off-ramps at Ina Road, will close beginning 1 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, for approximately 25 months.
• The westbound I-10 off-ramp at Orange Grove Road will close beginning 1 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, for approximately 25 months. Drivers will be routed to the westbound I-10 off-ramp at Sunset Road.
• The westbound I-10 frontage road from the Orange Grove Road on-ramp to Cortaro Road will close beginning 1 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, for approximately 25 months.

Friday, Feb. 17

• Westbound I-10 between Sunset and Cortaro roads will be narrowed to one lane from 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, to 5 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, for striping.

Saturday, Feb. 18

• Eastbound I-10 between Twin Peaks and Orange Grove roads will be narrowed to one lane from 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, for striping.

Currently

• The eastbound I-10 frontage road between Gillette Road and Starcommerce Way is a two-way roadway.
• Ina Road is narrowed to one lane in each direction between I-10 and Silverbell Road and traffic has been shifted to the north side of the road through fall of 2017. 
• Massingale Road is closed at the westbound I-10 frontage road through late 2018 while the frontage road is reconstructed. Drivers should use Camino de Oeste instead.
• The project also includes reconstruction of the Ina Road bridges over the Santa Cruz River. This work has closed the Pima County Loop Trail, south of Ina Road at Ted Walker Road and north of Ina Road at the Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, for approximately two years. Once the bridge project is completed, there will be Loop Trail underpasses on each side of the Santa Cruz River, new bike lanes and sidewalks along Ina Road and ramps to Ina Road that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The interchange reconstruction project will improve traffic flow in the area. The project consists of widening I-10 to accommodate an additional lane in each direction and widening Ina Road from Silverbell Road to Camino de la Cruz. 

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

For more information about this project, please call Paki Rico, ADOT senior community relations officer, at 520.388.4233 or email prico@azdot.gov  or visit the website at http://azdot.gov/inati.

Marana's Judge Sklar to Participate in Warrant Resolution Court

The Marana Municipal Court, Pima County Consolidated Justice Court, Sahuarita City Court, and the South Tucson Municipal Court will be combining their collective resources on Saturday, February 11, 2017 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court located at 240 N. Stone Avenue in Tucson to hold another Warrant Resolution Court.  

Present for the event will be Judge Laine Sklar from the Marana Municipal Court, Judges Cornejo, Felix and Roberts from the Pima Consolidated Justice Court, Judge Avilez from the Sahuarita Municipal Court, and Judge Lassen from the South Tucson City Court.  These Judges will be holding court with an emphasis on assisting people with outstanding warrants and in the resolution of outstanding issues that have resulted in suspended driver’s licenses.   

To date, previous events have been attended by more than 2,900 persons where 557 warrants have been quashed, 490 driver’s license suspensions have been lifted, 663 courtroom hearings have been held, and 1,535 individuals obtained information and were assisted by court staff in resolving outstanding issues.    

Many participants have expressed a reluctance to attend court for fear of possible arrest due to an outstanding warrant.  “Since we started last year, no one has been arrested. Everyone with a warrant who was willing to actively work toward resolving their case, had their warrants quashed," said Pima County Consolidated Justice Court Administrator Douglas Kooi.

Many of the outstanding warrants issued by these courts are for failure to appear in court on prior charges or for non-compliance with court sentencing orders. Outstanding warrants result in the suspension of a person’s driver’s license and the Warrant Resolution Court will be an opportunity to quash these warrants, lift suspensions, and have driver’s licenses reinstated by the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicles Division.

For those who owe court fees and fines, there will be service windows open to quickly and easily resolve these matters by setting up payment plans or re-establishing a payment plan already in place. 

The Saturday Warrant Resolution Court will be held at the Pima County Consolidated Justice Court located at 240 N. Stone Avenue.   During the event, six courtrooms will be open to resolve these matters.  The Pima County Attorney’s Office and Pima County Office of Court Appointed Counsel will have attorneys available to facilitate the resolution of these outstanding warrants.

Court officials hope the community sees this event as an opportunity for people who work, go to school, or have any other weekday issues to address their warrant status without interruption in their weekday schedule.  Although walk-ins are welcome, those who want to resolve outstanding warrants are encouraged to call the court in advance to ensure prompt resolution.  Individuals with warrants or driver’s license suspensions issued from Pima County Justice Court should call (520) 724-3171. 

Please contact Douglas Kooi at 724-3510 or at dkooi@jp.pima.gov for information.
 

Marana Chamber of Commerce and Town Staff Hit the Pavement to Support Ina Road Businesses

Officer John DeStefano meets Dr. Connie McCollow of Marana Physical Therapy

The businesses along Ina Road are about to experience major changes due to the reconstruction of the Ina/I-10 interchange. The Town of Marana has undertaken a number of efforts to mitigate the consequences of this roadwork, and on Wednesday morning, Town staff partnered with the Marana Chamber of Commerce to embark on a business walk, stopping at every one of the more than 200 businesses along the Ina Road corridor.

Armed with pens and clipboards, this small army of local officials and business owners set out to listen to and record all the concerns of those affected by this construction, and hopefully, to connect those businesses with helpful resources that will help them not only to survive construction, but to thrive through the project’s completion.

Ed Stolmaker, presidents and CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce, greeted the business walk participants before they hit the pavement. “We want to let all these businesses know that we’re here to help them with whatever they need."

Each walking team consisted, at a minimum, of a Town staff member and a member of the Marana Chamber. In addition to simply talking with the business owners, these teams also distributed folders full of helpful information. Included in these materials were a brochure about a program working to end retail theft, an informational sheet about how to apply for a special sign code permit, a marketing “table tent” that advertises the Project Ina app that business can post on their front counters, and much more.

The Regional Transportation Authority, which is funding this project, is also excited to offer the MainStreet Business Assistance Program. This program provides consulting services for businesses affected by construction. “We’ve provided services to over 6000 businesses,” explained Jan Aalberts-Waukon, who is helping oversee the Ina Road efforts of the program. “We can help with marketing strategies, financial analysis, social media support, and much more.”

Fully prepared with all their business walk supplies, the walking teams then stepped out into the mild morning sunshine. Javier Avalos, owner of Spectrum Ina Road Auto Collision, enthusiastically approached the door of Copper Creek Cookies, eager to champion these business support programs.

“The MainStreet Business Assistance Program and the Project Ina app are both great opportunities for businesses to get the word out to customers that Ina Road is open,” he explained to Clint Peek, owner of the bakery. Once he’d handed over the packet, though, it was time to listen. “Do you have any concerns or questions about this work?” Javier asked Clint.

“Of course this project presents some serious challenges, but we’re really happy with everything that the Town and the Chamber have done to help out these businesses,” answered Clint.

Town officials and the Marana Chamber know, however, that many businesses owners are feeling anxious about this project. The long-term benefit of this project, however, is clear. The new overpass at Ina Road will greatly improve the safety of this intersection and ease congestion by eliminating the need to stop for trains. In the meantime, the Town of Marana and the Marana Chamber of Commerce are excited to support any businesses in the construction zone.

“The businesses in the Ina Road Corridor are a vital part of Marana’s local economy,” says Stolmaker, “and throughout this project, we want to do everything we can to keep this sector thriving. Ina Road is open for business.”

Phase 2 of Ina Road Construction at I-10 a week away

ADOT will maintain business access throughout 25-month project at I-10

While Ina Road on- and off-ramps and intersection at Interstate 10 will close 10 for 25 months starting Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Arizona Department of Transportation is maintaining access to area businesses throughout construction of a modern traffic interchange serving a growing area.

In early 2019, motorists and area businesses will benefit from a bridge carrying Ina Road traffic over both I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, with ramps connecting to I-10.

“We are excited about how these changes will make Ina Road safer for drivers, but we also understand that such a large project can create challenges for business owners in the area,” said Rod Lane, ADOT’s district engineer in Tucson. “We want the community to know that customers can continue to do business with those companies throughout this work.”

ADOT and Marana officials are working together to maintain a smooth traffic flow at I-10 on both Cortaro and Orange Grove roads, the interchanges immediately west and east of Ina. ADOT engineers will monitor traffic on both roads and will make changes as needed.

Preliminary work on the $120 million project began last summer. While ADOT is overseeing construction, the Regional Transportation Authority, which is managed by the Pima Association of Governments, is providing funding for the new interchange. In addition, the Town of Marana is providing $25 million for work that will widen Ina Road and reconstruct Ina Road bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10.

In addition to the Ina Road closure at I-10 beginning at 1 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15:

• The westbound I-10 frontage road is scheduled to close between the westbound I-10 on-ramp at Orange Grove Road and Cortaro Road beginning at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
• Massingale Road will be closed starting Feb. 15 at the westbound I-10 frontage road through late 2018 while the frontage road is reconstructed. Drivers should instead use Camino de Oeste north to Pima Farms Road, west to Cerius Stravenue and Cortaro Farms Road to access the frontage road.
• The westbound I-10 frontage road closure north of the Orange Grove Road entrance ramp will remain in effect throughout the project.

The Regional Transportation Authority is offering a MainStreet Business Assistance Program to connect area businesses with resources including consulting services. For more information, visit RTAmobility.com (click on the MainStreet tab), call (520) 792-1093 or email info@sky-house.com.

The Ina Road overpass will be approximately 25 feet above ground level. Other major improvements include:

• Widening I-10 so it can eventually accommodate four lanes of traffic in each direction.
• Expanding Ina Road to two lanes in each direction west of I-10; Ina will remain two lanes in each direction east of I-10.
• Reconstructing and updating the frontage roads and I-10 on- and off-ramps to meet the new profile of Ina Road.
• Constructing two new bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10.
• Adding pedestrian underpasses at the two new Santa Cruz River bridges.
• Installing landscaping that will draw inspiration from the Sonoran Desert.

To learn more about this project, visit azdot.gov/InaTI.

Tangerine Roadwork Update, February 3

Beginning Monday, February 6 through Wednesday, February 8, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, the contractor will be reconstructing Tangerine Road at the first driveway east of Dove Mountain Boulevard to the Dove Mountain Shopping Centre. The traveling public can anticipate the following impacts:

• The first driveway east of Dove Mountain Boulevard to the Dove Mountain Shopping Centre will be temporarily closed

• Access to Dove Mountain Shopping Centre will be maintained along Dove Mountain Boulevard and at the additional driveways along Tangerine Road

On Monday, February 6, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., the contractor will be installing new traffic signals at the Thornydale Road and Tangerine Road intersection. The traveling public can anticipate the following impacts:

• No left turns will be permitted from westbound Tangerine Road to southbound Thornydale Road 

• Eastbound traffic will not be permitted through the Thornydale Road and Tangerine Road intersection while the new traffic signal is suspended over the travel lanes

• The traffic signal will temporarily be a flashing four-way stop

• Marana Police will be onsite to help direct traffic

There will be an increased amount of truck traffic along Tangerine Road between Twin Peaks Road/Dove Mountain Boulevard and Thornydale Road the week of February 6th to haul in materials.  Please be cautious and do not follow the trucks into the work zones. Ta